Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Likuena midfielder, Ralekoti Mokhahlane, who captained the Lesotho side in the absence of captain Moitheri Ntobo in the 2-0 win over Swaziland, said they will be aiming to rewrite the history books when they clash with Angola in the Cosafa Cup quarterfinal tie in Kitwe this afternoon.
The diminutive midfielder who was named man-of-the-match in the two group stage matches against Botswana and Swaziland said they are hungry for success and determined to do the country proud in the regional competition.
“We left home for the tournament under pressure from the football fraternity following a poor showing in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and we are all determined to do well in this competition,” Mokhahlane said.
“We held a meeting as players with the technical team and agreed that we will fight for the flag of for our country.”
The midfield maestro said the whole squad is motivated especially after qualifying as winners of the group ahead of Kenya and Botswana.
The LCS midfielder has two goals in the tournament so far having scored from the penalty spot against Kenya and Botswana.
Speedy striker, Thapelo Tale, who has overcome a disappointing spell with the team during the World Cup qualifiers, has vowed to keep improving.
The Likhopo striker is also among the tournament’s top goal scorers having scored two goals in two matches.
“I was disappointed to have missed the last match in the group stages due to suspension, but I’m back now and aiming to help the team reach the semi-finals,” Tale said.
“We are all happy to have gone this far in the tournament and we will give a fight against Angola (on Sunday) to make it to the next stage.”
Likuena coach, Leslie Notši, was forced to make four changes against Swaziland due to suspensions and injuries.
The trio of Bushy Moletsane, Litšepe Marabe and Ntobo missed the last match due to injuries while Tale was serving suspension for accumulating two yellow cards in two successive games.
The coach gave a rare start to attacking trio of Mabuti Potloane, Mojela Letsie and last season’s premier league top goal scorer Tšepo Seturumane.
The three players did not disappoint as Letsie and Seturumane bagged the two goals that helped Likuena finish as Group B winners ahead of Botswana and Kenya while Potloane gave his best performance in the national teams colours since been selected into the team.
Likuena started the campaign with a convincing two-all draw against Kenya. They came back from two goals down against Botswana in the second match to finish the game 3-3 before a 2-0 victory over Swaziland in the last match.
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